TheUniversity of Sassari is called today, Monday, September 28, to define its leadership for the next six years. From 9 am to 7 pm, the runoff round for the election of the new rector takes place, who will officially take office in December, succeeding Gavino Mariotti.
The final challenge sees two legal scholars facing each other: Francesco Morandi, full professor of Tourism Law, and Omar Chessa, lecturer in Constitutional Law. The two candidates reached this stage after the first two votes, in which none of the contenders managed to obtain the absolute majority necessary for immediate election.
Analyzing the results of Wednesday's ballot, Morandi gathered 267 preferences, while Chessa obtained 227. In the first round, the two were separated by a gap of 40 votes. Excluded from the competition were the professor of Microbiology Sergio Uzzau, who stopped at 194 preferences, and Giorgio Pintore, who had withdrawn before the second vote.
Turnout, which proved to be very high in the previous rounds, will be decisive for the outcome of the vote. Unlike previous rounds, no quorum is required for today's appointment; the only eventuality that would lead to a third round would be a perfect tie between the two candidates. Both professors boast significant experience: Chessa represented the Region at the Constitutional Court, while Morandi was the Councilor for Tourism between 2014 and 2017.
The proclamation of the winner will take place in the Great Hall at the conclusion of the voting operations. The academic community's attention remains high, while the university students await the installation of the new presidency.